GM has best December sales in 5 years

11:38 AM,
Jan. 3, 2013

Cadillac sales were up 12 percent in December.

Written by

James R. Healey and Chris Woodyard
Gannett

General Motors sales in December were up a modest 4.9 percent, but the big car company said that's its best sales showing in five years.

GM said its retail sales were up 38 percent from November, a key point to car companies because those are higher-profit sales to individuals, rather than the discounted sales to fleet buyers such as rental-car companies.

Automakers can inflate their sales by pumping cars into fleets, but it erodes earnings and the glut of cars later depresses used-car prices and makes it harder for owners to trade for new models. ...